CJFE Commemorates World Press Freedom Day with three Special Events

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) commemorates World Press Freedom Day (May 3), the annual day of remembrance with three special events. We invite Canadians to observe this day by recognizing the vital and often dangerous work journalists do to bring us the news every day.
Journalists provide us with information critical to the public interest: coverage of elections, human rights abuses, corruption, crimes, social issues and trends, business practices and security issues. But the nature of this kind of reporting often brings them under attack; they can face violence, kidnappings, harassment, imprisonment and criminal sanctions just for doing their job.
"When journalists come under threat, it should matter to all of us," says CJFE Executive Director Annie Game. "Because each time a journalist is attacked we all suffer - everyone has just a little bit less access to information."
The theme of the 2009 World Press Freedom Day is the potential of the media to foster dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation. CJFE has three upcoming events which celebrate in different ways the importance of freedom of expression and access to information while looking at the challenges facing those who work to create dialogue in hostile conditions.
April 29, 12:30p.m. "Reporting in Afghanistan" features panelists Susan Ormiston, Louie Palu and Graeme Smith speaking to host Anna Maria Tremonti, at the Glenn Gould Theatre, Toronto. For more information click here to visit our website
May 6, 7 Hot Docs "FIXER: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi" is the emotional tribute to Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi, who was kidnapped and killed in 2007. The ROM Theatre/Innis Town Hall, Toronto. For more information click here to visit our website
May 21, 6:30p.m. The Free to Speak series presents "Atom Egoyan and Arsinee Khanjian in conversation with Anna Maria Tremonti, grano, Toronto. More information coming soon.